🗞️ India–Canada CEPA Talks Advance, $50B Trade Target Set
Piyush Goyal led India’s largest-ever business delegation to Canada, covering Ottawa and Toronto, to accelerate CEPA negotiations. Canadian PM Mark Carney called the proposed deal a “game changer.” Both sides have set a bilateral trade target of $50 billion by 2030, up from ~$8.5 billion currently. ibef
💬 Expert Take — “A concluded CEPA with Canada would open new corridors for Indian pharma, textiles, IT and agri-tech — sectors that have long sought stable access to Canadian markets.”
🗞️ Khadi Sales Hit All-Time High of ₹1.87 Lakh Crore in FY26
Khadi and Village Industries posted record sales of ₹1.87 lakh crore in FY26 — a 501% jump since 2013-14. Total sector employment rose from 1.30 crore to 2.04 crore, with women accounting for nearly 59% of KVIC skill development trainees. ibef
🗞️ India Semiconductor Mission Launches Investor Portal
The India Semiconductor Mission launched an “Investors Support” portal to serve as a single-window interface for scheme details, project approvals, and grievance redressal. India has so far approved 12 chip fabrication and packaging projects and 24 design projects under the Semicon India Programme. ibef
🗞️ Petrol & Diesel Prices Hiked by 90 Paise
Petrol and diesel prices were hiked by 90 paise per litre amid rising crude oil costs linked to Middle East tensions. The move adds to inflationary pressures that economists say could push retail inflation closer to the RBI’s upper tolerance band.
🗞️ Net Foreign Investment Turns Negative in March 2026
India’s net foreign investment fell to -$1.17 billion in March 2026, as FPI outflows outpaced FDI inflows. The data underlines ongoing pressure on India’s capital account amid global risk-off sentiment and elevated crude prices.
🗞️ HDFC Bank Shares Fall 2% Amid Probe Reports
HDFC Bank shares dropped 2% following reports of a probe into ₹45 crore interest payments. The bank strongly rejected the claims, calling them factually incorrect. Markets remained cautious pending further clarification.
🗞️ Rupee Slides 44 Paise Against Dollar
The rupee fell 44 paise against the dollar as rising oil prices and Middle East tensions weighed on sentiment. The slide adds pressure on India’s import bill and forex reserves at a sensitive time.
🗞️ Supreme Court Sets Aside NCLAT Order in Amazon Case
The Supreme Court set aside an NCLAT order that had earlier rejected Amazon’s appeal, reviving the e-commerce giant’s legal position in a long-running dispute. The ruling is significant for ongoing foreign investment and retail sector litigation.
📊 Market Update
📉 Sensex: 75,867.80 ▼ 141.90 pts (-0.19%)
📉 Nifty 50: 23,907.15 ▼ 6.55 pts (-0.03%)
🪙 Gold (per gram): 24K ₹15,829 ▼ ₹60 | 22K ₹14,510 ▼ ₹55 | 18K ₹11,872 ▼ ₹45
🥈 Silver (per kg): ₹2,85,000